Priyadarshan, Lissy end 26-year marriage; divorce finalised

Chennai: Popular Malayalam actress Lissy Lakshmi on Friday confirmed that her marriage with filmmaker Priyadarshan has officially ended after both of them signed the legal documents in a court in Chennai. Calling the procedure an ordeal, she said she now feels relieved.

Priyadarshan and Lissy. Image courtesy: News18.com and Twitter

Following differences of opinion the two had been living separately from 2014. They filed for divorce in March.

"Today's (procedure) was just a formality and both our children were not present as they are busy with their work," Priyadarshan added.

"My marriage with Priyadarshan officially ended today. We both have signed the final papers at the Family Court in Chennai. This has been a real ordeal," Lissy said in a statement.

"In recent times, all celebrity divorces, from Hrithik (Roshan) and Sussanne to Dilip and Manju (Warrier) to most recently Amala (Paul) and Vijay all have been mutually agreed divorces. I am sure it also must have been painful to those couples but whatever differences they may have had, they all decided to respect each other," she said.

However, she says her relationship was the only exception.

"It was often fierce and uncivilised battle on and off the courts until a compromise was reached at the Madras High Court. Perhaps the ugliness of our divorce proceedings says all about the kind of marriage we have had. Anyway, I feel relieved now," she added.

Speaking to IANS over phone from Chennai, Priyan, as he is popularly called, said the court procedure on Friday was just a formality.

"Let everyone be happy," said the director, whose forte as a filmmaker was to make his audience laugh through his numerous films.

Lissy feels this is the end of a long and difficult road, and it's time to move on.

Priyan said that he might get admitted to a hospital in Chennai later in the day as he is suffering from fever .

"I am waiting to hear from my doctor, who has advised me to get admitted," added the director, whose Onam release "Oppam" starring superstar Mohanlal is doing roaring business at the box office.

Priyadarshan and Lissy had got married in 1990 after a brief romance, but the marriage was not a smooth affair. Before the wedding, following media reports that Priyadarshan's parents were looking for a bride for him, a heartbroken Lissy tried to end her life but she was rushed to a hospital and saved.

Following this incident, the two got married and settled down in Chennai. They have two children. The actress quit films after the marriage.